Children`s wellbeing - we`ve got the tools

You have to ask: Where do these non-governmental and unelected agencies come from? There are hundreds of them springing up around children. What makes them expert on other people`s children and their wellbeing and why are they allowed to pronounce on anything?  Having said that the Children`s Parliament proudly announces their plans for a survey:

The survey tool is unique because it is a subjective measure of wellbeing. [In other words it is unscientific] This means that it measures how the child or young person is now in the context of their environments and relationships – at home, at school and in the community. So, rather than count what children and young people do or don’t do, or focus on problems or challenges from an adult perspective, our survey looks at wellbeing and rights from a holistic, empowering and positive view of children and young people’s lives, as defined by them.

We have undertaken a first phase of work with the support of an intern funded by the Open University Third Sector Internship Programme. Extensive desk research and small scale piloting has evidenced the efficacy and validity of the tool we have produced in draft.

Now, with the support of a grant from the Scottish Government’s National Voluntary Organisations Support Fund (via YouthLink Scotland) we are undertaking further development work to April 2014. This will see us working with Aberdeen City Council and Midlothian Council to engage with a further 1000 children and young people between the ages of 8 and 18 to further test and then produce a final survey tool.

http://www.childrensparliament.org.uk/childrens-views-of-life-in-scotland.html

When checking out the patrons and board of trustees of these unelected bodies. there is sure to be a Baroness or two, and in this case there is no exception. The patron of the Children`s Parliament is Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill. I am sure we are now all reassured that the Children`s Parliament is an independent body with the best interests of children at heart. After all the Baroness is sure to know all about the wellbeing of ordinary children.

Among the other hangers-on is the trustee, Kate Smith, Corporate Governance Manager for Scottish Widows Investment (Yes, that makes sense) - and let us not forget the Friends of Children`s Parliament: actress Elaine C Smith and Robin Harper, a green campaigner and writer.

Well if the Scottish Government is pushing global citizenship and sustainable development on children, who else would you want?

Since the Scottish Government wishes to profile and database every child in Scotland (GIRFEC) why would they not provide the funding to this assorted group of nobodies or require consent from the rest of us?

(Children’s Parliament is a company incorporated in Scotland No. SC170891 | Recognised as a Scottish Charity SC 026247)